View source for Ge-next installation

{{DISPLAYTITLE:ge-next installation}}
This page gives the ge-next-specific choices and filenames. For the shared installation, backup, and rollback procedure, begin with [[Installing Galactic Empire]]; for saved files and resets, see [[Database files]].

== Choose a release ==
* [https://github.com/manicpop/ge-next/releases 16-bit ge-next releases] are for DOS MajorBBS/Worldgroup and [[MBBSEmu]]. Since ge-next 0.3.2, MBBSEmu uses the normal 16-bit package; it requires MBBSEmu v1.0-alpha-090826 or newer. See [[Running Galactic Empire with MBBSEmu]] for emulator setup.
* [https://github.com/manicpop/ge-next32/releases 32-bit ge-next releases] are for The Major BBS V10, not MBBSEmu.

Choose a '''full release archive''' for a new installation. Both architectures present themselves as ge-next and are intended to have the same gameplay; <code>PROJECT_ARCH</code> identifies the build in version and DATA output. They have different database layouts, so do not substitute one architecture's saved files for the other's. The release DLL is ready to install; source compilation is not required.

[[ge-arena]] is a separate module and download, despite sharing ge-next's source tree. Its <code>MPOGA*</code> files are not an upgrade to or replacement for ge-next's <code>MPOGE*</code> files.

== ge-next package contents ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Files !! ge-next-specific role
|-
| <code>MPOGEMP.DLL</code>, <code>MPOGEMP.MDF</code> || Module and definition. The MDF identifies <code>MPOGEMSG</code>, <code>MPOGEHLP</code>, and <code>MPOGESHP</code> as its message resources.
|-
| <code>MPOGEMSG.MSG</code>, <code>MPOGEHLP.MSG</code>, <code>MPOGESHP.MSG</code> || Main settings/messages, help, and ship classes. Full release archives ship these sources, not precompiled MCV files; use the host's message compilation procedure. See [[Configuring Galactic Empire]].
|-
| <code>MPOGEUSR.DAT</code>, <code>MPOGESHP.DAT</code>, <code>MPOGEPLT.DAT</code>, <code>MPOGEMAL.DAT</code>, <code>MPOGETEA.DAT</code> || Supplied starting files and, after play begins, the live game. The team file is text; the others are [[Btrieve]] files. [[Database files]] explains how to back up or reset the entire set.
|-
| Matching <code>*.NEW</code> (16-bit) or <code>*.VIR</code> (32-bit) || Clean templates for an intentional new game, not a step in a routine upgrade.
|-
| <code>MPOGEMNU.TXT</code>, <code>RELNOTES.TXT</code>, <code>FRONTEND.TXT</code>, <code>LICENSE.txt</code> || Menu text, release notes, DATA frontend reference, and license. The 16-bit archive also includes optional <code>RLTELNET.SH</code> and a linker <code>.MAP</code> file.
|}

The 16-bit archive retains DOS 8.3 filenames. Keep the files from one release together, including any compiled message resources generated from its MSG sources.

== Activating the module ==
Use <code>MPOGEMP.MDF</code> when adding ge-next to a MajorBBS/Worldgroup menu. With MBBSEmu, use module identifier <code>MPOGEMP</code> in <code>modules.json</code> and point its path at the 16-bit package; [[Running Galactic Empire with MBBSEmu]] covers the rest of that setup. Review <code>MPOGEMSG.MSG</code> and <code>MPOGESHP.MSG</code> before admitting players, then compile all three message sources for the installed DLL. The full archive already has starting <code>.DAT</code> files; copying templates over them is unnecessary.

The general [[Installing Galactic Empire#Install a new game|installation checklist]] covers host startup and first-use testing. Do not replace a running game's <code>.DAT</code> files merely because a new full archive contains fresh ones.

== ge-next upgrade boundary ==
ge-next 0.3 renamed the module and data from <code>MBM*</code> to <code>MPO*</code> and changed persistent structures. Saved games from earlier ge-next releases are '''not''' directly compatible with 0.3 or later. For later upgrades, read every intervening <code>RELNOTES.TXT</code>; a patch archive may omit files expected to be present from its specified base release.

Use [[Installing Galactic Empire#Upgrade or roll back|the shared upgrade procedure]] for backups, merging local MSG changes, preserving live DAT files, and rollback. MBBSEmu installations also have live SQLite <code>.db</code> files; [[Database files#MBBSEmu|Database files]] explains their handling. Neither the clean templates nor the starting DAT files in a new archive are a migration tool.

== ge-next checks ==
In the game, <code>HELP VERSION</code> should show the intended ge-next version and architecture. If a frontend uses [[Data command|DATA]], verify its pairing and reported project metadata against <code>FRONTEND.TXT</code>. The ordinary menu, ship, scan, roster, persistence, and host-log checks are listed on [[Installing Galactic Empire#Install a new game|the general installation page]].

== See also ==
* [[Installing Galactic Empire]]
* [[Database files]]
* [[Configuring Galactic Empire]]
* [[Running Galactic Empire with MBBSEmu]]

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